Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-20
FACTS AND FIGURES.
A Lucid Explanation of the Edwards Pro-
position-How it will Affect the City.

To the Editor of the Journal;
The manifold benefits to accure through the
adoption of the proposition of the Edwards
Mfg Co. ought to excite the interest of
every citizen who has at heart the welfare OF
the good city of Augusta and ensure rous-
ternoon.
Too long we have delayed the adoption of
the policy ard methods which have been the
chief cause of the prosperity and growth OF
hundreds of cities in this land. lis time
we were awake to our necessities and OPP
portunities, time to broaden our policy and
enlarge our ideas; time to say to men Of
means and men of energy, "come here and
we'll use you WELL"
Every day we hear of the tremendous boom
that has been given some little town in the
West. The country is flooded with papers
and circulars telling of its most excellent
location and wonderful growth and brilliant
future, and Offering the most liberal terms to
any manufacturer who will locate within it's
limits. The result is well known. Men
of money and men of muscle 60 flock
iHR lu3 sCuOois anu COiItget are erected, sue
stantial commercial buildings spring up,
large gratuities induce railroads to enter and
in an incredibly short time pioneer settle
ment has become a thriving city.
In the possession of such natural advantages
as any town can boast of, Augusta stands among
theforemost. Its healthful location its excellent
water supply, its good drainage, its magnif-
cent water power entitle it TO a front rank
among the fourishiDg cities of New England.
And it is just such liberaiity as we are ssked
TO extend to the Edwards Company, coupled
with the push and energy which other cities
have displayed, that is needed to take us out
of the slough of inactivity and place us on the
solid rock of enduring prosperity.
We cannot see how there can be any
determined opposition to the PROPOSE
ton of the Edwards Company but
lest there be some who do not fully
understand the case let US state it briefly
The Company's valuation is now $500, 900,
and is fixed At that fzur4 till 1898 calling
the rate OF taxation 2 per cent, they are pay.
ing an annual tax of Sc 900
They now ask that their valuation be
raised to $500 000 when the new mill is com.
pleted (Which we have reason to expect will
ne not later than April lst 1887 and kept at
that figure till 1908; upon this valuation the
annual LAX Wouiu De SlU,UUU-d clear gain to
the city of $4,000 per year over present
tax. and net gain of $4,000 between the
present time and 1898.
1t is extremely doubtful if the valuation of
the present property would be above $500 =
000-after 1898, so that this gain of SIG, 900
would be real and permanent.
We now propose to say to the Edward Co.,
''in consideration of the payment oftlis SIG,
600 and the 100000 or more which you viii ex-
pend in the erection of Rew mill, in the
purchase of materials and labor, and of the
large amount of money which the operation
of this mill will put in circulation in our
city, and of the increased and improved
facilities which you agree to afford to our
smaller industries. in consideration, we say,
OF all these benefits we agree to exempt such
new mill from taxat, on for term of ten years"
Surely this is not an extraordinary PROPOSE
tior 1t is in the line of progress. 1t is fol owing
the policy that has turned our neighboring
States into bee hives of industry, and gathered
into their Golfers thousands of dollars which
might easily have been ours.
Then let every man who looks ahead and
not behind, who looks up and not down, who
wants growth instead of decay, progression
instead of retrogression, give his influence
and vote in favor OF this movement Let
Augusta boom! CITIZEN.